Now that the Province’s new mayors and councils have been sworn in, the real work is beginning. Municipalities have until May 15 to approve a new budget, and the spending requests are coming in fast and furious.

In Vancouver, reporter-turned-blogger Harvey Oberfeld is apoplectic over Vancouver’s first draft of a budget, and rightfully so:

The word just in from city officials (who conveniently weren’t ready with their figures BEFORE the election …and as far as I can tell, didn’t even warn us with estimates of possible or pending annual operating costs increases)   is that Vancouver taxpayers could face a $52 MILLION SHORTFALL for the 2012 Budget. Of course, there will be “consultations” with the voters …stop laughing… and I’m sure they’ll trim the increase to ONLY $20 MILLION or $30 MILLION, saying what a wonderful job they’ve done. Now, pay up.

But the taxpayers will pay through the nose …new taxes and fees never discussed during the campaign. Just like we faced after Gordon Campbell won his provincial re-election.   (Was the NPA asleep or was this really hidden…questions that should be asked if the Vancouver media paid more than just minor lip service to covering the various City Halls.)

And it gets even worse.

A staff report to go before Vancouver Council Tuesday will recommend raising garbage collection fees by 5.7 per cent.  And recycling fees will rise too.

PLUS… how about higher water and sewer fees … recommended to go up another 10 per cent.

Amazing how city officials at Vancouver’s Kremlin weren’t able to come with any of this BEFORE the vote, but it’s all flowing like the Volga now …carrying away taxpayers’ dollars at an ever-increasing rate.

This is precisely what our organization was talking about throughout the municipal election campaign. Property taxpayers deserve better, and they deserved to know where their councillors sat on budget issues BEFORE the November 19 vote.

Oberfeld’s point on media attention is an interesting one. We found the big media (and the NPA campaign) to be tightly focused on Occupy Vancouver. There was little, if any, discussion  or in-depth reporting on how Vancouver was spending its money—beyond the million bucks or so it blew on Occupy. Community papers did a better job, but even their coverage was heavier on personalities and candidates’ community service than tangible issues.

Part of that is the candidates’ fault. Wise ones have learned not to promise much during campaigns as they are simply one vote on council. But look at your local municipal mayor and councillors: can you tell me, in one sentence, what issues each one champions or is passionate about? If not, shouldn’t we be able to?